Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-04

HOP SING TEsTIFIES IN BIG MON
OSYLLABLES.

He Believes in "A Trinity of Which He
Himself is One-A Poor Negro Boy
Convicted OF Burglary on Testimony
Which Was Not Overwhelming.
Hop Sing, Bull street lauudryman
whose collars and cuffs are more polished
than the English he speaks, was wit
ness in the Superior Court yesterday
afternoon. On Sunday, Jan. ., Hop lock-
ed up his wash shop and went out to
make call. When he returned about
night he found that one of the back win
dows had been broken open and some OF
his earnings had been stolen.
A negro boy named Ed Bacon was ar
rested several days later on suspicion,
and yesterday be was put on trial. MT.
Carter, who was appointed by the court
to defend Bacon. objected to Hop Sing
taking the usual oath as to the truthful
ness OF his evidence. MIR. Carter's point
was that perhaps Hop dld not believe in
God or the Christian Bible. Judge Adams
allowed him to be sworn with the under
standing that the Celestial could be Ques-
toned as to HIS belief when put on the
stand.
HOP SINGS BELIEF.
Hop conliaed the most of his replies to
mOnOsyllables, He stated that he be.
lleves in the Bible and God and' Hop Sing,
When asked If he could speak English he
replied very truthluNy, "Not muchee."
He testified that somebody broke in his
shop and took his money and scattered
things about promIscuOusly. He accom-
panied his testimony with many gestures,
which amused the spectators,
ON ba said that Blk
had been stolen, and he produced a small
lOc. tobacco bag from which he declared
the money had been taken. To corrob-
crate his statement he exhibited pink
slip of paper containing some hieroglyph-
les like those on laundry bill for a two
weeks washing. Hop sOlemnly swore
that the symbols stood for $ll5. He had
not seen the burglary committed ana
could not therefore identify the prisoner.
A BARBER BOYS STORY.
James Brown, neatly dressed colored
boy, who is employed i'll barber shop
which opens back into the sameyard that
the laundry does, swore that he saw Ba-
con coming out of Sings window with
four bundles of clothes. The witness
swOre to everything with positiveness. At
his suggestion, Bacon put the four bum
dies back in the shop and went off. For
some reason Brown did not mention what
he had seen when he went back in the
barber shop, although there were parties
in there who could have caught the bur-
glar, Or at least could have stepped to the
door and taken a look at him so as to have
identified him If ever he was arrested.
OUT OF THE BACK DOOR.
On Monday Brown told Hop Sing he had
seen some one coming out of his place,
and he furnished description TO Con-
stable Jerry Hunter. Hop promised to
give Brown $40 If the burglar was caught
and convicted. The Constable testified
that Brown told him that the party was
broad across the shoulders, of low, medi-
UNI height, wore big hat, coat with a
tear on il, and a sassy look" Bacon
made no statement, and tue jury, after
being out an hour, decided that the de-
PENDANT was guilty. Sentence was not
passed. Bacon was poorly clad and did
not look as if he ever had $1l5 in his pos
session during his whole life. He claims
t" be a stranger ia savannah.